Every single day should be WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY.

Since I was a teenager I have suffered from Depression and Anxiety. For years I hid this. Embarrassed for feeling this way. Too often hiding behind a smiling mask when I was crying inside. Now I realise it’s not something to be ashamed of. It doesn’t make me a bad person. It just makes me human.

Finding just one person who understands makes such a huge difference. Just one person who will listen. They don’t need to have any answers, you just need to feel like you are not alone in these struggles. Talking about how I really do feel has been such a huge stride forward.

Mental Health is a priority. Something I need to focus on every single day. I can find the time to exercise, so I can find the time to be kind to myself. I hope you can as well.

54 thoughts on “#worldmentalhealthday”

  1. Beautifully said! I don’t think there is a single soul on this earth that doesn’t struggle with depression. It’s been the “black dog” (as Sir Winston Churchill famously described it) that has plagued me pretty much my whole life. It does help to talk about it. I also find writing has been my salvation in many ways. Finding ways (like exercise) to deal with it is so helpful and so healthy. Thank you for your post. I agree, mental health should be a daily priority.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. Beautifully said! I don’t think there is a single soul on this earth that doesn’t struggle with depression. It’s been the “black dog” (as Sir Winston Churchill famously described it) that has plagued me pretty much my whole life. It does help to talk about it. I also find writing has been my salvation in many ways. Finding ways (like exercise) to deal with it is so helpful and so healthy. Thank you for your post. I agree, mental health should be a daily priority.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      3. Here in Canada an organization called Canadian Mental Health Association is making inroads, but centuries of fear and suspicion around mental illnesses is not easily dispelled. At least we are no longer confining people to those awful institutions. Baby steps, I guess.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Yes indeed about mental health being a priority! And no one should feel shame for having depression and anxiety issues! Glad that you feel freer to speak out about it now. Keep being kind to yourself! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. I’ve fortunately never suffered from anxiety or depression which makes it difficult to appreciate the struggles of those that do. Clearly there are more people in your position than mine which makes it invidious that more help and assistance isn’t readily and freely available.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  7. I am glad you feel able to talk about it. I have fought the diagnosis of anxiety and depression for a few years now and I think accepting it and speaking openly about it has finally helped me deal with it and live with it. I’m proud of myself and of you and of anyone else that manages this on a daily basis. X

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Having Depression or Anxiety isn’t a character flaw, like having diabetes or GERD isn’t a character flaw.

    I’m glad you talk/write freely about your feelings. I always try to be open too. We never know who might stumble onto our stories and be helped. I could’ve used someone like us, back in the dark days!
    💌💌💌

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Most of my depressed moods, have come from oppressed preludes. In anyways, how can any of us communicate what is going on inside our heads to the other’s insides (as Spock would like to do the “My mind to your mind trick”). You see it’s the outside doing all the pressure to all of us, for each in a personal way. Well at least the universe has created things to help combat all the external negatives e.g. the taste of a favourite cake, the scent of a pretty rose, the soft fluffiness of a friendly cat, the sound of a curlew on the lonely beach and finding a teeny weeny moment of clarity in a world so full of shite.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. I think far more people understand and will listen than we realise.
    I think it’s finding those people that is the difficult thing.
    Exercise is key in my opinion too. Walking/running faster than one’s thoughts is so liberating.
    j

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. I still want to hide. I don’t like being anything less than cheery, but I am trying not to hide it. It comes out in the things I write, and I do share it with the people I trust. I’m glad you don’t want to hide and that you are willing to share.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. opening up is often the hardest part… I am making sure to keep better contact with my sister right now.. there seems to be a lot of disconnect due to busyness and in the last few months I have seen people who used to be supportive withdrawing more. Its sad as we need to share about the truth of how we REALLY feel. You do that and that is wonderful.. It helps others. Big hug.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. I feel very fortunate to have such an understanding family. My parents have supported me throughout my struggles with depression since I was a teenager. And when I had a “meltdown” a few years back, they were right by my side. I don’t know what I would done without them. Thank you for bringing this important topic to light!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. I do agree – I think most have struggled with depression or anxiety or both through life… it is human. For too long people keep that silent or in the dark.

    I have also known depression, and I have anxiety also from time to time …

    I do have panic issues as well in certain circumstances.

    So ya know … just things we work through

    But is very important to recognize!!

    I had someone really close to me, commit suicide… I never saw it coming…

    He was in Mensa … I used to do overnighters with him for our telephone company… it would be slow… he would bring Mensa games and we would play games all night and drink coffee while handling the phones – we would laugh and laugh…

    He left to go into military … he did good, became a chef… he was always smiling – always making jokes and seemingly happy… I never ever saw depression in him ever – I would have noticed I think?? He never presented any sadness or depression… ever

    The last time I saw him was summer of 2002… we went back east to visit friends and family and they had a huge BBQ for us… he was there … quieter – but I figured military grew him up? … he was also thinner… but again I thought military worked him out? … but still with me, he was laughing and joking and all seemed fine?? Was like old times being around him

    He seemed to have his life all together ??

    We came back home to California and Mother’s Day of 2003 he was discovered to have killed himself 💔 it sent shockwaves through all of us friends and his family

    I was sooo shocked, and just… that was so devastating … he was an amazing man… I didn’t see his depression?? I didn’t see his sadness. ☹️💔 he hid all that from family and friends – no drugs or alcohol… just depression.

    So not only good to speak about, but to be aware of how others are feeling even if you don’t see it.

    I always try to think back and how did I miss that? How did I not see it? Could I have done anything different? Could I have prevented somehow??

    I dunno… I miss him though – he was always amazing. There were many of us who loved him dearly!! He did know that – we were all very close.

    But yeah important to speak of – remove the stigma!! It is human not anything bad … unless it becomes too much and you feel you can not reach out – but is very important to reach out no matter how hard it might be!!

    I wish he had… I really really wish he had 💔

    Sometimes people might think they don’t want to be a burden? Or something like that, and I get that too… but when people love or adore you… you matter and they don’t want to lose you

    Anyway… I always remember him… he had the best smile ever and was really smart … very sad loss… I wish that wasn’t ever true ☹️💔 I wish I could change that… miss him very much!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. Pingback: #worldmentalhealthday – st[ays]oft

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s